Even though it's been three years since President Obama signedthe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act(PPACA) into law, most small business owners say theystill don't get how the law affects them.

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The majority incorrectly believe health reform requires them toprovide health insurance for employees in 2014, or that they'll betaxed if they don't offer health insurance next year, according toa new survey by eHealth, the parent company ofeHealthInsurance.

The survey of 259 small business owners shows that awareness has improved slightly since lastyear, but 56% still misunderstand the employee mandate (down from69% of survey respondents who misunderstood the mandate wheneHealth conducted a parallel survey in August).

Beginning next January, PPACA requires businesses with 50 ormore full-time employees to offer their employees health insuranceor pay additional taxes. The rule doesn't apply to businesses withless than 50 employees.

Another point of confusion among small business owners areexchanges.

The survey reveals that only 18% of small employers believe theycan confidently define or explain what a health insurance exchangeis. Nearly two-thirds (62%) admit to not understanding exchanges atall, while 20% say they have only a vague understanding of the roleexchanges are expected to play.

The majority also say they don't want to be forced to buy healthinsurance through any single source, whether through a governmentexchange or a private exchange. Most (71%) say they want the optionto buy their health coverage through the source of theirchoice.

The survey also found that nearly a third of small businesses(27%) will consider dropping coverage for their employeesin 2014. The majority, at 67%, say they don't have plans to do so,while 6% say they plan to stop offering coverage.

As for what impact they think reform will have on healthinsurance costs, 59% expect costs to go up. Just 11% expect costs todecrease, while 21% aren't sure.

Most small employers say they may turn to brokers and agents forhelp understanding reform as 72% say they most trust them asinformation sources. Others say they will turn to small businessassociations, insurance companies and government agencies forhelp.

This article was originally posted at LifeHealthPro.com, a sister site of CreditUnion Times.